Bega, NSW - St John the Evangelist Anglican

Year Built: 1874

Denomination: Anglican

Saint: John

Address: 12 Church Street, Bega, New South Wales, 2550

Architect: Edmund Blacket

Traditional Owners: Yuin-Monaro people

Last Updated: 08/08/2023

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History and Architecture:

The first ministrations of the Church on the South Coast, were rendered by the Rev. William George Nott, in 1842, who worked for some months in the "District of Maneroo, beyond the limits of location." When in 1843 the Rev. E. G. Pryce was appointed, his charge comprised the whole of the Monaro and South Coast, and beyond, too, for there are evidences of his work in Gippsland. His registers show frequent ministrations at Pambula and Eden and occasional visits to Boyd Town. His immediate successor,the Rev. Walter Riky, and the Rev. Edward Synge are the first to mention Bega by name.

A building which served both as day and Sunday school was built in 1854 on the present Church site. On 1/3/1856 Bishop Barker appointed the Rev. William Allworth to be minister in the "District of Eden (Twofold Bay), Bega and Pambula," and "reside within the said district."

The Church was built in 1874 of brick and stone in Gothic style by the an architect Edmund Blacket. It was consecrated in 1882.

Clergy:

These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.

Years Name Annotation D.o.B D.o.D
1856 - 1860 Rev William Allworth
1861 - 1863 Rev Edward Henry Acton Gwynne
1864 - 1871 Rev John Lister Knight 1832 1902
1871 - 1879 Rev Alured Dodsworth Faunce
1880 - 1884 Rev David Evans Jones
1885 - 1894 Rev George Spencer 1840 1925
1894 - 1904 Rev Frederick Bevan 1857 1932
1899 - 1899 Rev Frederick William McDonnell Curate 1865 1923
1904 - 1906 Rev William Martin 1859 1952
1905 - Rev Stanley Johnson West Lay Reader 184 1954
1904 - 1906 Rev William Martin
1906 - 1916 Archdeacon Thomas Edwards Owens Mell 1840 1934
1911 - 1911 Rev Frederick William Rettie Curate 1881 1951
1917 - 1928 Rev Ben Dore Bryant
1923 - 1928 Rev George Augustus Sanders Rural Dean 1885 1966
1926 - Rev Douglas Campbell Tilghman Lay Reader 1890 1970
1932 - 1935 Rev James Mann Thomas Rural Dean 1875 1961
1928 - 1932 Rev John James Edmund Done
1932 - 1949 Rev Rouse Upjohn 1881 1945
1949 - 1950 Rev Clarence Barton Alexander 1908 1980
1950 - 1965 Rev Thomas Edward Whiting 1908 1986
1959 - 1959 Rev Charles Richard Austen Curate 1908 1978
1962 - 1962 Rev George Haddon Reeks Asst 1907 1973
1966 - 1974 Rev Francis Robert Woodwell
1974 - 1979 Rev Cecil Alfred Osborne 1914 1986
1979 - 1994 Rev Dalba John Primmer
1994 - 1999 Rev Kenyon Vincent McKie
1999 - 2000 Rev Hartley Graeme Hansford
2017 - Rev Stuart Haynes
2022 - Rev Steve Clarke
2001 - Rev Christpher Stephen Short

Organ:

The Organ was built by John Smith, of Bristol before 1855. It was restored and installed at Bega by Australian Pipe Organs in 1991. It has 1 manual, 5 speaking stops, mechanical action.
For a full description click here.

Source:

1. Cable Clerical Index with permission.
2. Extracts from the history of the Diocese of Goulburn by Ransome T. Wytt Publishers Edgar Bragg & Sons via Meribula Historical Museum.
3. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.
4. Saint Johns Church Bega 1858 - 2008 Celebrating 150 years since first Anglican built in Bega